Loom stopping device



April 22, 1969 R. E. ADAMS LOOM STOPPING DEVICE Sheet 0113 Filed Sept. 29, 1967 INVENTOR. RUSSELL EHDHMS A TTORNEY April 2, 1969 RQEM'JA'MS 3,439,716 I LOOM STOPPING DEVICE 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1967 Sheet 2 of 5 INVENTOR.

Russsu. EfioK-ms a Y @7 may aw ATTORNEY April 22, 1969 R. E. ADAMS LOOM STOPPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 29, 1967 A TTORNE Y United States Patent Trust Filed Sept. 29, 1967, Ser. No. 671,674 Int. Cl. D03d 51/40 US. Cl. 139-336 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toggle release for the actuating lever of a clutch-brake motor for effecting instantaneous loom stoppage. The toggle release being controlled independently of the looms start-stop shipper linkage.

Background of the invention (1) This invention pertainsto mechanism for stopping fly-shuttle looms upon signal and more particularly to improved means for stopping the motor drive prior to beat-up whenever the shuttle is found to be improperly boxed.

(2) For many years looms have had devices for protecting against damage caused by beating-up while the shuttle is partially or entirely in the shed. These devices have generally involved some physical obstruction in the path of the advancing lay to cause a bang-off which would arrest the forward motion as well as actuate the shipper linkage to knock off the motor drive. To overcome the violence of such a bang-off, means have been devised more recently to deactivate the clutch-brake motor drive of the loom and permit its fast-braking characteristics to effect loom stoppage. Where the shipper linkage has been used to inactivate the motor, high forces have been needed and excessive lineal movement has been required to effect a stoppage signal.

Summary This invention pertains to the protection mechanism for fly-shuttle looms by which the loom is stopped in the event the shuttle is not contained within a shuttle box completely, as the lay commences each forward beat-up stroke. It more particularly pertains to the deactivation of the clutch-brake motor drive by improved releasing means which shall be separate from the shipper linkage. 'Ihe releasing means of the invention includes an over-center latch member which requires only a short-stroke plunger, applying minimum forces, to knock off the motor drive.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a protection device for stopping a loom on signal which shall have a faster reaction and be more sensitive to a greatly reduced activating force.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a toggle-release latch affixed directly to the loom operating lever to permit almost instantaneous reaction to a stoppage signal.

It is a further object to provide a release latch of the over-center type which will require only slight pressure and few degrees of movement to trigger the operating lever for a loom stop.

With the instant invention the signal for a required loom stop is transmitted directly to the clutch-brake motor independenly of the shipper handle and its attendant linkage. A stop signal will initiate a slight pressure upon a plunger finger against the pivotable toggle latch and effect a simultaneous reaction within the motor by releasing the clutch and applying the brake. The loom is thereby stopped prior to the usual moment of physical bang-off.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a clutch-brake motor with the over-center latch of the invention shown in the loom driving position;

FIG. 2 is portion of the mechanism of FIG. 1 with the latch shown in its released or loom stopped position;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the shipper linkage end not clearly seen in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a typical loom having the invention applied and showing the signalling linkage connected thereto;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the right-hand shuttle box showing a suitable actuating device to provide a signal to the over-center latch of the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective of the linkage which is directly affected by the actuating device of FIG. 5.

Description of the preferred embodiment Now referring to FIG. 4, the right-hand side of a common fly-shuttle loom with only that mechanism necessary for complete understanding of the invention is shown in the drawings. It will be understood that, while only the right-hand side is shown, the other side of the loom is similarly equipped and the operating linkages to the invention are interconnected for actuation from either side. A loomside 10 pivotally supports a shipper handle 11 for manually controlling a clutch-brake type motor 12, the function and operation of which is well known. A rearwardly extending connecting rod 13 is fastened for movement by the shipper handle 11 and connects with a second rod 14 (FIG. 1) which extends to the motor 12. A ball type rod end 15 is fixed to the end of the rod 14 and is flexibly fastened between the sides of a U-shaped connector 16 by a bolt 17. A short rod 18 (FIG. 3) is fastened to the face of the connection 16 by a screw 19 to make rod 18 and extension of the rod 14 (FIG. 1).

The motor 12 is controlled by an operating lever 20 pivotally fastened at 21. The lever 20 is movable toward the motor to a start position and away from the motor to a stop position. The rod 18 is adapted to project loosely through the lower end of the lever 20 at a hole 22. A compression spring 23 is fastened to the motor 12 in position to bias the lever 20 continuously toward its stop position.

An end of a lay beam 24 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is shown supported on a sword 25 for reciprocal movement thereon with a fragmment of the shuttle box 26 shown (FIG. 5) and a shuttle 27 in position for entry. Adjacent the entrance to the shuttle box 26 is a shuttle sensing lever 28 pivotally fixed to the upper end of a shaft 29 which extends downwardly through the lay beam 24. The sensing lever 28 will be pressed to the solid-line position (FIG. 5) on the rearward stroke of the sword 25 by a spring restrained tappet 30 which will strike a stationary spring arm 31 (FIG. 4). The shuttle 27 will pivot the sensing lever 28 to the dotted line position 28' (FIG. 5) when properly received by the shuttle box 26.

A double armed lever 32 having a hook portion 33 upon the rearwardly extending end is secured to the shaft 29 beneath the lay beam 24 as by welding 34. An upwardly directed lever 35 is supported for pivotal movement on a stud 36 fixed upon the loomside 10. The upper end 37 of the lever 35 is in a position to be either triggered or by-passed by the hook portion 33 as it is reciprocated forward and back by the sword 25. It will be seen from FIG. 5 that, with the sensing lever 28 in the solid line position, the hook portion 33 will contact the lever end 37 and draw it forward to transmit a signal that the shuttle is not fully boxed. When the sensing lever is pivoted to the dotted line position, the hook portion 33 will not strike the lever end 37 and no signal will be initiated.

A connecting rod 3 8 is fastened to the lever 35 by a ball-type end 39 and extends toward the rear of the loom to a support bracket 40 (FIG. 6). A bell-crank lever 41 is pivotally retained by the bracket 40 with one arm 42 fastened to the rod 38 and a second arm 43 disposed generally at right angles to the arm 42. A connecting rod 44 having a ball-type end 45 fastened to the arm 43 extends lengthwise of the loom (FIGS. 1 and 6) to a supporting slide :bearing 46 fixed beneath the motor 12. The rod 44 at its outwardly extending end defines a plunger 47 which will exert a force outwardly of the loom when the lever 35 is triggered b the hook portion 33.

The means for releasing the operating lever 20 to allow it to assume a stopping position comprises a flexible toggle link, generally designated 48 having an outer link 49 and an inner triggering link 50 (FIGS. 1 and 2). Links 49 and 50 are loosely joined by a volt 51 and are supported at their outer ends by pins 52 and 53, respectively. Pin 52 passes through a hole in the end of the rod 18 and pin 53 through the side walls of the operating lever 20. The links 49 and 50 are positioned so as to take a slight over-center or latched relationship when the link 49 rests upon the rod 18. A light tension spring 54 is fastened between the inward end of the link 50 and a central point on the operating lever 20 to constantly urge the two links toward their over-center position. When in the over-center or locked position as seen in FIG. 1, the links 49 and 50 act as a linear drive between the manually operated shipper linkage and the operating lever 20 which can be set in either the start or stop position therewith. A downwardly projecting striker plate 55 formed as an arm of the link 50 is in alignment with the plunger 47 which, when impelled through linkage by the hook portion 33, will pivot the two links upwardly to the released position shown in FIG. 2. This will allow the spring 23' to respond immediately and pivot the operating lever 20 to the stopping position without affecting the shipper linkage.

With the instant invention an improved means is disclosed for stopping a loom upon a given signal which is more sensitive than previous means and which requires only a slight force to effect release of the operating lever. The short stroke required by the plunger 47 to release the toggle-link 48 permits complete reliance upon the clutch-brake motor for loom stopping without the necessity for the usual bang-off devices for loom protec tion. The toggle-link is easily reset to the over-center position by merely pivoting the shipper handle 11 its full stroke forward before starting up the loom.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of Ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom having a combination clutch-brake motor drive, a lay reciprocally movable by said drive, a shuttle box supported upon the end of said lay and movoble therewith, an operating lever pivotally mounted for movement between stop and start positions for controlling the operating condition of said motor drive, manually operable shipper linkage for pivoting said operating lever between said two positions, spring means urging said operating lever toward said stop position, and release means for permitting said operating lever to assume said stop position independently of said shipper linkage, said release means including an over-center latch member pivotally interconnecting said operating lever and said shipper linkage. Q

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 which further includes a shuttle sensing member pivotally retained by said shuttle box, said release means including triggering means disposed for engagement by said sensing member for transmitting a signal for releasing said over-center latch member.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said latch member defines a flexible toggle link movable between a locking position and a releasing position.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 wherein said toggle link includes an angularly disposed unitary striker plate for pivoting said toggle link toward said releasing position, and wherein said triggering means includes a plunger member slidably fastened in a position to impel said striker plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,556,751 6/1951 Fumat 139-341 X 2,889,855 6/1959 Turner 139--336 3,047,030 7/1962 Metzler 139336 3,313,384 4/1967 Turner et al. l9218 FOREIGN PATENTS 219,518 2/1962 Austria.

JAMES KEE CHI, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 139341 

